Strong push by the US to designate JeM Chief Masood Azhar as a ‘global Terrorist’

Source :NewsBharati Date :13-Mar-2019

Washington, Mar 13: Today the whole world has eyes on the UNSC because today UNSC will take a decision and declare the Masood Azar as “Global Terrorist”. But on the eve of the crucial meet, the US made a clear stand that there is enough evidence against Azhar to designate him as a global terrorist.

Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar meets the criteria to be designated as a global terrorist and not doing so is against regional stability and peace, the US said Tuesday

The JeM head Azhar carried out many terror strikes in India and was involved in the attack on Parliament, the Pathankot air force base, army camps in Jammu and Uri, and the latest suicide attack on CRPF in Pulwama which claimed the lives of 40 personnel.

In the aftermath of the February 14 attack in Pulwama, three permanent members of the UNSC - the United States, Britain, and France - have moved a resolution to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.

Several previous attempts by these three countries inside the UN Security Council were blocked by China, the close ally of Pakistan.

China, which is one of the five veto-powered members of the Security Council, so far has been proclaiming that there is not enough evidence against Azhar to designate him as a global terrorist.

With increasing global outrage in the wake of the Pulwama attack that led to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan, US, Britain, and France hope that Beijing would act wisely and would not oppose their move this time to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.

On the eve of the crucial decision by the UN Security Council, the Trump Administration on Tuesday made it clear that there is enough evidence against Azhar to designate him as a global terrorist.

"Azhar is the founder and the leader of the JeM, and he meets the criteria for designation by the United Nations," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said.

He said, The JeM has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a threat to regional stability and peace.

The US and India work closely together on counterterrorism efforts, and that includes at the United Nations, he added, noting that their views on the Jaish-e-Mohammed and its founder are well known.

However, he desisted from making a direct comment on the negotiations inside the UN on this issue.

"The United Nations Sanctions Committee, their deliberations, are confidential, and as such we don't comment on specific matters, but we'll continue to work with the Sanctions Committee to ensure that the designation list is updated and accurate," Palladino said.

Palladino expressed, "The United States and China share a mutual interest in achieving regional stability and peace, and that a failure to designate Azhar would run counter to this goal".